THIBETAN EXPEDITION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 9 December 1903, Page 3

THIBETAN EXPEDITION.

CHINESE COI'RT EXCITED. Received 8. I.L'S p.m. TEKIX, Dec. 7. The Chinese Court is excited over the Thibetee expedition, and the Chinese resiui nt at Lhassa have been ordered to he very circumspect kver the affair. NEWS BY THE 'FRISCO MAIL. AUCKLAND, Dee. 8. 'Frisco mail news in connection with Colonel Younirlmsband's expedition to Thibet states that the Lhassa Government has declared its determination to light. The people have been warned to prepare for war. A Russian, formerly in the Chinese Customs service, has been in Thibet for some time, and has a«quired a 'great influence over the lamas and priests, who claim to have divined that the present year is propitious for war. The -question of effectively opening up the trade between India and Thibet, which' is at present very limited, straggling through the various Himalaya passes, has long engaged the attention of the Indian Government, and, as recent cablegrams have stated, a British expedition has just been despatched to uphold Britain's prestige and advance British vcominercial interests. The policy 'of the Buddhist lanras of Dhassa, who virtually rule Thibet, has, however, been consistently and strongly against all intercourse with foreigners, Europeans especially. Some months ago, however, a Russian mission was reported to have reached Lhassa, and to have impressed the lamas with the view that they must stand specially on guard against British encroachments, and that Russia was their friend and possible backer. The Times of India of Oct. 38 publishes the following on the Thibetan xiaue question :—A writer in Capital says : —" We have read lately that the Government of India is> waVirag up to the fact that the luisses-faire policy hitherto adopted with reference to our political relations with Thibet can no longer continue, and we read of a British mission sent to that country, which up to date has accomplished little or nothing, owing to the usual dilatory tactics of the Thibetans and Chinese. It is evident that a vigorous policy is about to be adopted, when we find road-making going on with vigour through Sikkim territory up to the border tof Thibet. But has struck our Government and the India Foreign Office that a much better method of bringing the Thibetans to their senses would he to open out the trade route from Sadii a to Batang, via the Brahmakhund Valley and Rima, lying to the extreme norths-east of Assam ? Government may be right in endeavouring to reach Lhassa by a direct road to Sikkim if the object is purely political, and so that a British Resident may reside there and be in touch with the Thibetan authorities ; but even then it would be quite as easy to get to Lliassa by the Brahmakhund route.'-'